Commission meeting Feb 20 in Springfield will consider a petition to modify commercial Dungeness crab fishery rules

Public comment period open; comment via online form

SALEM, Ore.—Oregon's Fish and Wildlife Commission will meet Feb. 20 at the Lane County Armed Forces Readiness Center, 3106 Pierce Parkway in Springfield.

The meeting starts at 8 am and will be livestreamed on the meeting agenda page and at ODFW's YouTube channel. View the agenda at https://myodfw.com/articles/commission-agenda-february-20-2026. Sign up at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting to testify for an agenda item or in public forum using the forms found on the agenda page.

More information about each agenda item will be posted on the page no later than 10 days before the meeting (by Feb. 10).

The Commission will consider the following two agenda items:

Commercial Dungeness crab fishery rules petition

ODFW is expecting significant public interest in this agenda item. Comments should be submitted using this online form. Public testimony will also be taken in person and online during the meeting. (Comments that have already come in via the Commission email address were also accepted as part of the public record.)

Whale entanglements in fixed fishing gear along the West Coast, including Oregon, have increased since 2014. This rise is linked to a growing humpback whale population, changing ocean conditions that increase overlap between whales and crab gear, and improved reporting. Since 2019, ODFW has worked with industry and other stakeholders to reduce these risks through a comprehensive strategy. These efforts form the foundation of a draft Conservation Plan required to obtain an Incidental Take Permit (ITP) under the federal Endangered Species Act. ODFW is in the process of finalizing the plan and securing an ITP which will ensure compliance with federal law while balancing fishery and conservation goals.

On Dec.11, 2025, the Commission received a petition from the Center for Biological Diversity, Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council, American Cetacean Society and other parties. The petition requested that rules for Oregon's commercial Dungeness crab fishery be modified to further reduce the risk of whale entanglement.

Under Oregon's Administrative Procedures Act (APA), receipt of a petition starts the 90-day response clock. The Commission must either accept the petition (which initiates rulemaking) or deny it within 90 days.

The APA also directs the Commission to consider six statutory factors when considering a petition: continued need, public complaints, complexity, overlap/conflict, changes in technology/economics, and legal basis when considering a petition.

For this item, consistent with APA procedures, the Commission is requesting public comments on whether other options should be considered for achieving the proposed rules and rule amendments' substantive goals while reducing the negative economic impact of such rule modifications on commercial crab fishermen and the state's economy.

Per the APA, the Commission can only accept or deny the petition during this meeting. Accepting the petition directs ODFW to conduct a public rulemaking process, with any proposed rule changes considered at a future public meeting and after an additional public process.

Winchester Water Control District fish passage (WWCD) final order

The Commission will consider whether to approve or modify the proposed order prepared by the Office of Administrative Hearings, Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) after consideration of the record, including the exceptions and argument filed by the WWCD.

No new evidence may be considered during the meeting and there will be no public testimony taken. Following a brief staff presentation limited to the record, the Commission will deliberate and determine by motion its decision on the final order.

The Feb. 20 meeting agenda also includes other informational briefings. Several members of Governor's Kotek's natural resources staff will provide an overview of recent Executive Orders, including an October 2025 EO to accelerate climate protections for the state's lands and waters.

An Executive Session will be held pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f) to consider information or records that are exempt by law from public inspection, as well as to consult with legal counsel concerning legal rights and duties of a public body with regard to current litigation or litigation likely to be filed as authorized by ORS 192.660(2)(h). The executive session is closed to the public. Members of the media can attend the Executive Sessions but may not report on anything heard during that session. Media wishing to attend should contact the Director's office at (503) 947-6044.

ODFW provides reasonable accommodation upon request, including assistive listening devices, sign language interpreters, and materials in large print or audiotape. To request accommodation, please contact the Director's Office at (503) 947-6044 (voice) or (503) 947-6042 (fax) at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.